EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1499, 7 August 1880, Page 23

EDUCATION BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Education Board was held on the 29th ult., and was attended by Messrs James Green (chairman), Keith Ramsay, A. C. Begg, Henry Clark, M. Fraer, W. Elder, T. Fergus, and Professor Shand. The following business was transacted :— FINANCE REPORT. The Finance Committee's report was adopted as, follows:—, - f " Your Committee have considered the various matters referred to it, begs to make the following recommendations :—: — ' ," That the sum of £6 be granted to the Glenore School Committee, and £12 10s to the Waikouaiti School Committee for completion of the school, buildings. Crookston.—-The late teacher of the school in this' district'having applied for three months' salary in lieu! of notice,-your Committee recommends that the appli-j cation be referred to the local School Committee for; further information. ! " Tuap^ka. Mouth.—Your Committee cannot recom-; mend the Board to make any alteration, or to allow any departure from the terms upon which the sum of i £10 was granted' for the completion of the school buildings in this district"/ " Waitahuna.—Your Committee cannot see its way) to recommend the Board to make any additional grants for improvements in connection with this school. " Fairfax.—That the application of the School Committee in this district for a grant money for repairs,, purchase of grates, &c, be declined. f «' Waihola' Gorge.—That the portion of the old; buildings not required for play-shed be handed' over to the School Committee, with power to sell the same; the proceeds to be devoted to com- 1 pleting the buildings, and the works to be carried out under the supervision of the Board's clerk of; works. " Wairuna.—Your Committee having 1 taken into its' consideration the complaint of Mr M'Laughlan, contractor, Clinton, in connection with the contract for erection of a coal-shed for this school; also the Com-; mittee's explanation of the matter, and the report of. the clerk of works thereon, recommends that the sum granted be handed over to the School Committee. " Your Committee would recommend that Messrs A. and T. Burt's claim in connection with the fitting- of the ventilators in the George street school be paid, so soon as they have put the ventilators in proper working order, to the satisfaction of the Board's architect. " That a clerk of works be appointed to supervise the erection ol the new school buildings in Oamaru. " In view of the present financial position of the Board,; and considering the telegram just received from the Hon. the Minister for Education, yourv. Committee' would strongly recommend the Board to postpone all applications for new buildings, enlargements, and improvements of existing school buildings until it is ascertained what sum will be placed at the disposal of the Board out of the current year's vote for school buildings. " Board'sßanking Account.—Your Committee having placed itself in communication with'the several bank managers in Dunedin, begs to, recommend that the Board still continue to do its business with the Bank of New Zealand." The telegram referred to in the last clause was as follows :— " Wellington, July 28th, 1880. "To the Chairman of the Education Board. "The House of Representatives has reduced the total of the Education vote by £32,000 a year, equal to a reduction from the total capitation grant of 10s per' average attendance. With the view that the same principles of economy should apply to education as to the other .branches of the public service, Parliament has determined that 10 per cent, reduction shall be, made on salaries, pay, and wages throughout every; branch of the public service. The Government assume that you and your Board will readily co-operate'with! them in giving full effect to the decision of Parliament in this matter, and so readjust and reduce the expenditure of moneys entrusted to the Board as to meet the necessities of the case by making the reductions apply proportionately and fairly to every part of the Board's service. Sections 8 and 43 of the Act indicate the several purposes to which the statutory grant is applicable. I give you ( early intimation, as no doubt your Board will consider it advisable to give immediate intimation to its officers and school committes of the necessary reductions, so as to prevent the incurring of further liabilities at former rates, until your Board has had time to make the necessary adjustments. Referring to the last paragraph of.departmental circular No. 60,1 must again press upon Board the absolute necessity for its positively revpining from incurring liabilities on school buildings peyond (? what can be carried out) by moneys already in their possession, or expressly authorised. The Government will not be responsible for any other expenditure. The reduction takes effect from the Ist prox. —I have, &c, " W. ROLLESTON." r Mr Fraer considered that the telegram just read meant that committees would have to put their hands in their pockets to a greater extent. Mr Begg thought it was simply the first step towards the reimposition of fees. Mr Elder suggested that a special meeting of the Board should-be held to consider the reductions necessary. *' < Mr Begg said it would be better to appoint a committee to decide upon a scale of reduction, and submit it to the Board,, A desultory discussion followed, during which it was suggested that a circular should at once be sent to teachers informing them of the reduction in salaries to take place; ,lt twas held by some members that, although the reduced allowance by Government to the Board took eflfecijrom the Ist of August, the Board could not now legally or fairly reduce teachers' monthly salaries before September ; but to this it was replied that, even if so, the total reduction, whether spread over 12 or 11 months of the year, must be the ! same, so that the ieffect would be the same. It was j also discussed whether the percentage of the reduction should be stated in the circular. Mr Beqo thought it would be well to tell thejteachers that the reduction was not expected to be greater than 16 per cent., which would prepare them for tho worst. Mr Clark would suggest to those drawing up the scale that it should be done on tho system of taking more than 10' per cent, off the larger salaries, and less than that off the smaller. Professor Shand believed that the reduction would be less than an all-round one of 10 per cent. He also expressed the opinion thatjhe reductions might only be temporary, as beforo another year the Board or committees might have the power givon to them of raising money locally. Mr Clark agreed that this would bo a most satisfactory Step,

Eventually Mr Be«g moved the following resolution, which was carried unanimously :— " That the Secretary be instructed to intimate by circular to tho teachers employed by the Board that, in consequence of a reduction in the amount voted by Parliament for educational purposes, it will be necessary that a reduction bo made in teachers' salaries, to take effect from August Ist: the amount of reduction to be decided at next meeting of the Board. Further, that a committee, consisting of the Chairman, Messrs Shand, Elder, and the mover, be appointed to draw up a scheme of reductions, to be submitted to a special meeting of the Board to be held on August sth, at 11 o'clock a.m." TENDER. The following tender was accepted .-—Addition to Waitepeka School, Watson Rhodes, £49 13s id. SAVINGS BANK. The Roxburgh School Committeo's application for a savings bank was granted. RAVENSBOURNE. An application from the Church of England to have the use of the school at Ravensbourne on Sundays was referred to the Committee. SHAG VALLEY. The Inspector reported that in his opinion there •was no necessity for the closing of the Shag 1 Valley School. The Secretary was instructed to advertise for a teacher for the school. LIFE INSURANCE. - The following circular from the Secretary of the Education Department was received, and it was agreed that the Board should give effect to the same when requested : — " I am directed to inform you that the Commissioner of Government Life Insurance has represented the desirability of extending to teachers and other officers employed by the Education Boards the system adopted in the case of officers paid directly by Government, under which they are enabled to pay premiums on insurances effected in the Government office by means of deductions from their monthly salaries. Mr Rolleston is of opinion that it is advisable to encourage teachers to take advantage of the life insurance scheme, and the system in question is obviously of much practical importance. It has already been adopted by one Board, and I am to recommend it to the favourable consideration of your Board." RESIGNATIONS. The following resignations were accepted r— Ralph C. Darling, St. Bathans; Annie Goulding, Alexandra; Mary A. Nicol, Oamaru ; George Steven, Kaitangata ; Louisa Wicks, Normal School ; James Jeffrey, Swift Creek ; John Anderson, Bannockburn. APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments were made :— W. H. Arnold and Mrs Ross, Cromwell ; Ralph C. Darling, Kyeburn ; John L. Bonniu, Waihola ; James Robertson, Stony Creek ; Wynter Blathwayt, Pukeiviti ; Wm. Millar, William Street ; James Jeffrey, NorthEast Valley ; Jessie C. Brown, Naseby j'Margaret Waddell, West Taieri ; E. Ferguson, Blueskin ; Jane Sim, George street'; John Evans, North Oamaru. , MAUNGATUA. The following letter was read ;— "Maungatua, July sth, 1880. "P. G. Pryde, Esq. "Sir,— Afire broke out in the Maungatua Schoolhouse on, the night of Friday, 25th June, supposed to have been caused by some defect in the chimne}'. The fire was discovered by three boys, viz., Alex. Petrie, and Donald and Thomas Gordon, who quickly gave the alarm and got the fire put out before very much damage was done. There is no doubt had it not been' for the prompt action and timely assistance of those three boys, the building would have been burned to the ground. The School Committee decided to bring this case under your favourable notice, as they think the boys deserve every credit for the prompt manner in which they saved the schoolhouse from utter destruction. Hoping you will give this your attention, — rl have, &c, "James Miller, "Sec. School Committee." Mr, Fergus was inclined to think the action of the boys a' highly meritorious one. Most boys would be inclined to let the school burn. — (Laughter.) Other members agreed that the boys deserved every credit, and thought the Secretary should reply to that effect." Mr Clark opposed a reply. The boys had done no more than they ought to have done. Mr Ramsay : Oh, let us officially declare them to be three very good boys, and that will end it. The Secretary was instructed to write to that effect. accounts. • Accounts were passed amounting to £6734 13s id. APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE. Mr Fergus moved, and Mr Clark seconded— "That the ordinary meetings of the Appointments Committee shall take place about the puddle of each month, as near as possible about the third Thursday in each month." This was met by an amendment by Mr Begg, seconded by Mr Elder— "That the Appointments Committee meet on the day fixed for the monthly meeting of the Board, the Committee to meet at 11 o'clock and the Board at 2 o'clock. Special meetings of the Committee to be held when necessary." The motion was agreed to, KENSINGTON. On the motion of Mr Fergus, seconded by Professor Shand, it was resolved—" That applications be invited for the head mistress-ship of the Kensington School, failing the Committee agreeing to appoint one of the persons whose names have been sent already to them I by the Board." THE BOARD'S REGULATIONS. Mr Inspector Petrie suggested that the Board should pass a new regulation, imposing a fine at its discretion, not to exceed £10, for disregard of tho Board's regulations and instructions on the part of any teacher. On the motion of Professor Shand,' seconded by Mr Fraer, it was carried— "ln case of any infraction of the above instructions, the Board reserves to itself the power of inflicting a fine at its option, not exceeding £10 for each such offence." IN COMMITTEE. The Board transacted some business in Committee, and theu adjourned.